dna
Here’s what DNA testing companies are doing with all that genetic data
In the past couple of years, genetic-testing companies like Ancestry and 23andMe have become popular for finding out family history ...
DNA analysis shows ‘everyone had been wrong’ about mysterious Siberian unicorn
It didn't look much like the dainty unicorns of myth and legend, but the extinct unicorn of Siberia is even ...
Searching for keys to cancer resistance in the genome of giant tortoise Lonesome George
An international research team has discovered several variants in tortoise genomes that potentially affect six of the nine hallmarks of ...
Mitochondrial DNA can be passed on from fathers, too
You probably learned two things about mitochondria in high school biology. First, they’re the powerhouses of the cell. Second, you ...
Searching for the genetic links to ADHD risk
If you have ADHD, chances are higher that your siblings do, too. Estimates differ as to how strong the connection ...
Human, Neanderthal mating was more than just a ‘one night stand’, study suggests
Once upon a time, prehistoric humans and our ancient Neanderthal cousins met and procreated. Except, that ‘once upon a time’ ...
Missing data? African study shows why we need to expand the human reference genome
The human genome sequence, first published in 2001, has some important information missing. The latest version of it, called GRCh38, ...
Viewpoint: DNA fitness test claims are ‘misleading’
The sales pitch is compelling: By revealing the secrets locked inside your DNA, genetic testing can optimize your workout gains ...
What if you think you’re Black, but your DNA test disagrees?
Three years ago, when Sigrid E. Johnson was 62, she got a call from a researcher seeking volunteers for a ...
Whether you prefer coffee or tea may depend on your DNA
Whether people prefer coffee or tea may boil down to a matter of taste genetics. People with a version of ...
How DNA tests solved the mystery of this strange, now-extinct monkey
For nearly 100 years, scientists haven’t been able to agree on the evolutionary origins of a strange, now-extinct monkey that ...
New techniques could transform epigenetics research, ameliorating diseases
Epigenetics, the study of mechanisms by which genes are turned on or off without altering their genetic code or DNA ...
Start up Nebula Genomics offers free full genome sequencing, but there’s a privacy catch
Information wants to be free, says the old internet meme, and a genomics company will now apply that to DNA: ...
Epigenetic clues could assist crime investigations by revealing age range, lifestyle habits of suspects
[The] field of forensic epigenetics [uses] the markers that sit on top of DNA and modify it’s expression, rather than the ...
‘Moonshot for biology’: Inside the quest to sequence all life on earth
A mission to sequence the genome of every known animal, plant, fungus and protozoan - a group of single-celled organisms ...
Selling yourself? These companies want to pay for your genetic information
Some companies want to rent your DNA - should you let them? ...
Viewpoint: It’s time to replace our fear-based genetic engineering regulations
In the early 1970s a group of scientists -- none involved in agriculture or food -- raised concerns about the ...
After centuries of failed attempts at breeding a blue rose, biotechnology does the trick
For centuries, gardeners have attempted to breed blue roses with no success. But now, thanks to modern biotechnology, the elusive ...
Personal DNA tests challenged for perpetuating ‘false notions’ of ethnic cultures and race
Genetic-ancestry tests are having a moment. Look no further than Spotify: [Last month], the music-streaming service—as in, the service used ...
Storing movies on DNA pellets? School-bus-sized gene storage machine may help pave the way
In a world awash with data, DNA is a hugely compact way to store it. The data on every iPhone, PC, ...
Diagnosing deadly medieval fever epidemics through ancient DNA
Many epidemics of fever ravaged Europe from ancient times through the early 20th century. But one disease stands out in ...
Patenting the genes of marine life and what it means for medicine
[Marine animal] DNA is included among thousands of patents owned by BASF, which calls itself “the largest chemical producer in the ...
Understanding the brain’s record-keeping system
The brain has a temporary way to keep track of memories ...
Ancient Italian cemeteries tell tales of barbarian migration
We know very little of [Longobards] or any of the other barbarian tribes that roared through Western Europe other than ...
This natural defense strategy could help some genes fend off CRISPR edits
Sowbugs, armadillos, hedgehogs… and DNA? The same strategy that some animals use to avoid being attacked — roll into a ...
Why is former basketball player Shawn Bradley so tall? His DNA could offer the answer
As a first-round draft pick from Brigham Young University, Shawn Bradley caused a hubbub during the 1993 NBA draft. That ...
Why the promise of personalized medicine could fall short for minorities
African-Americans are underrepresented in large-scale genetic and neuroscience studies ...
